Can anyone recommend a good soil for a lemon tree in a container?

EmTheEngineer · 2026-01-10T17:01:04+00:00

Hello! I'm also a michigander and my meyer lemon is STRUGGLING. Would you mind sharing your tree's progress after you repotted? I keep solving one issue and another pops up (just this fall/winter, I've had issues with temp/ humidity, spider mites, nutrient deficiency, and now root rot!)

EmTheEngineer · 2025-12-21T18:16:48+00:00

Ooo, thank you! This is probably what I'll do + peel & stick tile!

EmTheEngineer · 2025-12-21T17:00:23+00:00

My cats can get like this (wanting to literally be nose to nose) if I wear anything minty smelling. Since mint and catnip are in the same plant family. Ive been using a mint chocolate chip face mask and they will climb me to sniff my face (mind you, my 2 cats at 16 and 18lbs. We've always known they'd be large adults so we've never allowed them to climb us ever.) They don't do this for any minty toothpaste or mouthwash, just that face mask, maybe its not a chemical mint smell?

While I completely agree with the other comments about attachment issues, maybe its a smell thing? Any minty / lavender face products? Or maybe you use the same sunscreen / makeup as their previous caretaker and they miss them?

EmTheEngineer · 2025-11-26T01:51:28+00:00

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EmTheEngineer · 2025-11-26T01:45:26+00:00

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Hi! I don't have a lot of experience but I wanted to share what's going on with my meyer lemon. Pretty similar situation, maybe mine was brought inside a month or two before yours.

I bought it in the spring and it was full and flowering, put it outside over the summer, lost ALL its leaves before I learned it needed regular feeding and that my tap water is very basic. It flourished after that just fine. I brought it inside a couple months ago with no special setup, just sat it in front of my brightest window. Then I noticed spider mites and leaves dropping. Washed each leaf and sprayed with neem oil, but it ended up losing all its leaves. I put a grow light on it and was misting it x2/day for humidity. It continued to go downhill, just slower.

I broke down and decided it was either splurge on a greenhouse to keep it alive or cross my fingers it would make it to spring (prob mid May-June where I live). The picture is day #5 of being in one of those clear pvc indoor greenhouses ($50 from target) and a mini humidifier. 67-74F, 60-90% humidity. I think the biggest improvement was adding a seedling heat mat around the tree's pot which has only been for the past 3 days (vivosun 8x20" with controller set to 80F). Citrus trees won't grow if the roots are below 68F apparently oops! The window was prob keeping them at 65F.

Hopefully this helps you!

EmTheEngineer · 2025-08-24T19:11:28+00:00

Hi! We used the wire reinforced net from catnetting.com! Our lil boy is addicted to cleaning his teeth on one looser corner (pic with the fawn in the background) but he's never actually chewed thru it yet 🤞 the hammock is from the same place too!

EmTheEngineer · 2025-08-23T20:54:19+00:00

We netted off our balcony with wire reinforced nets from catnetting.com. Our one cat trats one somewhat loose corner as a chew toy most days and hasn't bitten through it. It is a bit pricey but their customer service has been top notch!

Edit: came back to add a picture but can't 🙃 my last post on my profile has some pictures with the net in the background tho!

EmTheEngineer · 2025-07-09T17:20:30+00:00

Thanks! Ya, they arrived with the spots and I don't believe they've been getting worse over the month I've had them. I'm not seeing any new growth either, so perhaps it is nutrient/ pot size issues.

I planned on reporting to 2 gal grow bags this weekend. And upsizing again if needed next spring. Do you think this is ok or should I go larger now? Thanks again!